Senate Unveils Farm Bill, Stricter SNAP Work Rules Not Included

The Senate Agriculture Committee unveiled its version of the farm bill Friday. The Senate version leaves out stricter work requirements for adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a provision in the House bill that was met by backlash from Democrats.

The current farm bill expires Sept. 30. This draft was hammered out by committee chairman Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, and ranking minority member Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan. In the course of drafting it, the two repeatedly expressed a commitment to making a bill with bipartisan support. That’s in contrast to the House version of the bill which received zero votes from Democrats either in committee or on the House floor.

The House bill failed to pass in May because some conservative Republicans held back their support in order to secure a vote on an immigration bill. The House plans a re-vote on the farm bill by June 22.